Whats Nice: Cool little piece of technology; easy to use; saves the need to use a laptop to search for signals.

Whats Naughty: Would be great if it indicated open Wi-Fi networks; could be a bit smaller if used on a keychain.

Whats the Deal: Show of hands please. How many of you have used your laptop to search for local Wi-Fi hotspots? While this method may sound practical, it can also be a bit burdensome when you’d rather pin down a double shot of espresso instead of your laptop.

The Wi-Fi / HotSpot finder is perfect for the freeloader on the go. Small enough to be used on your keychain, this handy device detects 802.11 b/g signals of up to 500 feet. With a simple press of the button, the finder has five LED indicators to show signal strength and coverage. The package includes batteries and a Quick Start Guide.

We traveled around our neighborhoods in pursuit of our local hotspots. In more residential areas, you may want to drive around and continually check if there’s any reading. When we were in downtown San Francisco, it was more of a matter of hunting down the strongest signal. Although it’s not a toy, it sure felt like one.

We thought it would be really great if the Wi-Fi finder indicated whether a network was open or not. That may be a bit too much to ask, but perhaps we may see that in the future.